Images circulating on social media reveal the manner in which one of the injured victims was loaded into an ambulance following a collision between a rented bus and a truck on Saturday night in Holguín. The serious incident resulted in at least three deaths, including 33-year-old former baseball player Vladimiro Torres.
In a video posted on Instagram by crime reporter Niover Licea, the rudimentary method used to transport one of the injured—identified by a netizen as "Alejandro"—in a SIUM emergency vehicle is evident. Several users pointed out the lack of "oxygen equipment" and "nobody performing resuscitation," despite the severity of the injured person being mentioned by onlookers in the video, where an emergency worker was seen checking for a pulse in the neck.
"First aid in Cuba doesn’t exist," remarked one commenter, highlighting the absence of essential emergency medical supplies. Another user noted, "There was an ambulance on site because the accident happened very close to the military hospital, about a kilometer away, otherwise there would have been no ambulance or stretcher."
Another commentator with knowledge in the field emphasized, "In accidents, you cannot handle an injured person like this due to various trauma manifestations in the body. Before moving them, you need to immobilize them to prevent further injury. Vital signs should be checked, among many other things that prevent complications."
As of the time of this report, the exact number of injured individuals and their clinical status has not been disclosed. It is only known that they were transported to Vladímir Ilich Lenin Hospital. According to social media posts, the accident happened near the city’s ring road, on the Mayarí highway.
Provincial Baseball Commissioner Luis Alberto Paris Johnson confirmed that Vladimiro Torres, a former player for the Holguín Hounds (2008-2010) and the Santiago de Cuba Wasps (2011-2012), was among the deceased. The identities of the other victims have yet to be revealed.
In recent days, several severe traffic accidents have been reported across different provinces in the country. In one recent case, a young couple on a Kawasaki motorcycle died on Friday in Cárdenas, Matanzas, after crashing into a tree near the roundabout by the city cemetery. In another tragic event last Friday, a young girl died on the Ocho Vías in Havana when the car she was traveling in with her family overturned and caught fire. Just hours earlier, in the early hours of Thursday, five more people lost their lives in an accident near Playa Santa Lucía in Camagüey.
Details and Implications of the Holguín Traffic Accident
The recent accident in Holguín has raised numerous questions and concerns among the public. Below are some of the frequently asked questions regarding the incident.
What caused the accident in Holguín?
The accident involved a collision between a rented bus and a truck. Specific details about what led to the collision have not yet been disclosed.
Who was Vladimiro Torres?
Vladimiro Torres was a 33-year-old former baseball player who played for the Holguín Hounds (2008-2010) and the Santiago de Cuba Wasps (2011-2012). He was one of the victims who died in the accident.
How were the injured victims treated?
According to social media videos, the injured were transported in a rudimentary manner, lacking essential emergency medical equipment like oxygen and proper resuscitation efforts.